Walking Stick Having Generating and Illuminating Functions

ABSTRACT

A walking stick includes a stick body, a circuit board, a control switch, a storage battery, a generating unit, a control handle, a plurality of light emitting members, two lamp shades, a lighting unit, a buzzer, and a level detector. The light emitting members and the lighting unit can emit light beams outwardly so that the walking stick can provide a lighting function at the night or on a darker place. The control handle is pivoted relative to the stick body to drive the generating unit to generate an electric power so that the walking stick has a manually generating function without needing an external power supply. When the walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground), the buzzer is operated to emit a sound so as to provide a warning and notifying function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stick and, more particularly, to awalking stick for use with older people.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional walking stick comprises an upright stick body having anupper end provided with a bent grip portion to facilitate an olderperson to hold and grip the stick body and a pad mounted on the lowerend of the stick body so as to provide a cushioning effect to the stickbody. However, the conventional walking stick does not have a lightingfunction, thereby causing danger when using at the night or on a darkerplace.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a walkingstick, comprising a stick body, a circuit board mounted in the stickbody, a control switch mounted on the stick body and electricallyconnected with the circuit board to control operation of the circuitboard, a storage battery mounted in the stick body and electricallyconnected with the circuit board to supply an electric power to thecircuit board, a generating unit mounted in the stick body, a controlhandle pivotally mounted on the stick body and connected with thegenerating unit to drive the generating unit to generate the electricpower which is stored by the storage battery, a plurality of lightemitting members mounted on the stick body and each electricallyconnected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from thestick body, two lamp shades mounted on the stick body to receive andcover the light emitting members respectively, a lighting unit mountedon the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board toemit light beams outwardly from the stick body, a buzzer mounted in thestick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emitsound signals outwardly from the stick body, and a level detectormounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuitboard to detect a level of the stick body.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a walkingstick having generating and illuminating functions.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a walkingstick, wherein the light emitting members and the lighting unit can emitlight beams outwardly so that the walking stick can provide a lightingand illuminating function at the night or on a darker place.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walkingstick, wherein the control handle is pivoted relative to the stick bodyto drive the generating unit to generate an electric power so that thewalking stick has a manually generating function without needing anexternal power supply.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walkingstick, wherein the USB socket is electrically connected with a chargingunit to supply the electric power to the storage battery so that thewalking stick can also be electrically connected with an external powersupply to enhance the versatility of the walking stick.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walkingstick, wherein when the walking stick falls down (or the user falls downonto the ground), the buzzer is operated to emit a sound so as toprovide a warning and notifying function.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walking stick in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially perspective view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a walking stick inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a stick body 10, a circuit board 20 mounted in the stick body10, a control switch 21 mounted on the stick body 10 and electricallyconnected with the circuit board 20 to control operation of the circuitboard 20, a storage battery 26 mounted in the stick body 10 andelectrically connected with the circuit board 20 to supply an electricpower to the circuit board 20, a generating unit 29 mounted in the stickbody 10, a control handle 15 pivotally mounted on the stick body 10 andconnected with the generating unit 29 to drive the generating unit 29 togenerate the electric power which is stored by the storage battery 26, aplurality of light emitting members 27 and 16 mounted on the stick body10 and each electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to emitlight beams outwardly from the stick body 10, two lamp shades 13 and 14mounted on the stick body 10 to receive and cover the light emittingmembers 27 and 16 respectively, a lighting unit 24 mounted on the stickbody 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to emitlight beams outwardly from the stick body 10, a buzzer 25 mounted in thestick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 toemit sound signals outwardly from the stick body 10, a level detector 28mounted in the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuitboard 20 to detect a level of the stick body 10, a USB (universal serialbus) socket 23 mounted on the stick body 10 and electrically connectedwith the circuit board 20, and a transformer socket 22 mounted on thestick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20.

The control switch 21 and the transformer socket 22 are mounted on thecircuit board 20. The transformer socket 22 is electrically connectedwith an electric transformer (not shown). The generating unit 29 iselectrically connected with the circuit board 20 and the storage battery26 and is provided with a rotatable driven portion 290. The storagebattery 26 is located above the generating unit 29. The control handle15 has a first end provided with a drive portion 150 pivotally mountedon the stick body 10 and combined with the driven portion 290 of thegenerating unit 29 to drive and rotate the driven portion 290 of thegenerating unit 29 to generate the electric power and a second endprovided with a holding portion 151. The drive portion 150 of thecontrol handle 15 is provided with a fixing hole 152 secured on thedriven portion 290 of the generating unit 29.

The stick body 10 consists of two casings 113 and 114 which are combinedtogether. Each of the two casings 113 and 114 of the stick body 10 has aperiphery provided with a protruding fixing portion 107 to combine thetwo casings 113 and 114 of the stick body 10 together. The stick body 10has a substantially T-shaped profile.

The stick body 10 has an upper portion provided with a receiving recess109 to receive the buzzer 25, two receiving chambers 100 and 101 toreceive the two lamp shades 13 and 14 respectively, and an elongatereceiving slot 111 to receive the level detector 28. The lamp shade 13has a side provided with a plurality of receiving holes 130 to receivethe light emitting members 27 respectively. The two receiving chambers100 and 101 of the stick body 10 are located opposite to each other andare directed toward two opposite directions. Each of the two receivingchambers 100 and 101 of the stick body 10 protrudes outwardly from theupper portion of the stick body 10. The receiving slot 111 of the stickbody 10 is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the stick body10. The receiving recess 109 of the stick body 10 has an outer sideprovided with a plurality of apertures 110 that are arranged to form acircular shape.

The stick body 10 has an inner portion provided with an elongatereceiving space 103 to receive the generating unit 29 and the storagebattery 26. The receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 has aperipheral wall provided with a locking groove 102 to fix the circuitboard 20.

The stick body 10 has a periphery provided with a mounting hole 104connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mountingthe USB socket 23, a mounting bore 105 connected to the receiving space103 of the stick body 10 for mounting the control switch 21, a mountingaperture 106 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10for mounting the transformer socket 22 and a mounting groove 108connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mountingthe lighting unit 24. The USB socket 23 protrudes outwardly from themounting hole 104 of the stick body 10, the control switch 21 protrudesoutwardly from the mounting bore 105 of the stick body 10, thetransformer socket 22 protrudes outwardly from the mounting aperture 106of the stick body 10, and the lighting unit 24 protrudes outwardly fromthe mounting groove 108 of the stick body 10. The USB socket 23, thecontrol switch 21 and the transformer socket 22 are in line with eachother and are located opposite to the lighting unit 24.

The stick body 10 has a side provided with a receiving channel 17 toreceive the control handle 15. The receiving channel 17 of the stickbody 10 has a wall provided with a passage 112 connected to thereceiving space 103 of the stick body 10 to allow passage of the driveportion 150 of the control handle 15.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-6 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, afterthe control handle 15 is pulled outwardly from the receiving channel 17of the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 4, the control handle 15 ispivoted relative to the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 5 to drive thegenerating unit 29 to generate the electric power which is stored by thestorage battery 26. Alternatively, the USB socket 23 is electricallyconnected with an external power supply, such as a charging unit (notshown) to supply the electric power to the storage battery 26. Then, thecontrol switch 21 is pressed to operate the circuit board 20 which turnson the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit 24, sothat the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit 24 canemit light beams outwardly from the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 6 toprovide a lighting and illuminating function.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 7 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, whenthe walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground),the level detector 28 is operated to send a signal to the circuit board20 which operates the buzzer 25 to emit a warning sound as shown in FIG.7 so as to provide a warning and notifying function.

Accordingly, the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit24 can emit light beams outwardly so that the walking stick can providea lighting and illuminating function at the night or on a darker place.In addition, the control handle 15 is pivoted relative to the stick body10 to drive the generating unit 29 to generate an electric power so thatthe walking stick has a manually generating function without needing anexternal power supply. Further, the USB socket 23 is electricallyconnected with a charging unit to supply the electric power to thestorage battery 26 so that the walking stick can also be electricallyconnected with an external power supply to enhance the versatility ofthe walking stick. Further, when the walking stick falls down (or theuser falls down onto the ground), the buzzer 25 is operated to emit asound so as to provide a warning and notifying function.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A walking stick, comprising: a stick body; a circuit board mounted inthe stick body; a control switch mounted on the stick body andelectrically connected with the circuit board to control operation ofthe circuit board; a storage battery mounted in the stick body andelectrically connected with the circuit board to supply an electricpower to the circuit board; a generating unit mounted in the stick body;a control handle pivotally mounted on the stick body and connected withthe generating unit to drive the generating unit to generate theelectric power which is stored by the storage battery; a plurality oflight emitting members mounted on the stick body and each electricallyconnected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from thestick body; two lamp shades mounted on the stick body to receive andcover the light emitting members respectively; a lighting unit mountedon the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board toemit light beams outwardly from the stick body; a buzzer mounted in thestick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emitsound signals outwardly from the stick body; a level detector mounted inthe stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board todetect a level of the stick body.
 2. The walking stick of claim 1,wherein the generating unit is provided with a rotatable driven portion;the control handle has a first end provided with a drive portionpivotally mounted on the stick body and combined with the driven portionof the generating unit to drive and rotate the driven portion of thegenerating unit to generate the electric power.
 3. The walking stick ofclaim 2, wherein the control handle has a second end provided with aholding portion.
 4. The walking stick of claim 1, further comprising: aUSB (universal serial bus) socket mounted on the stick body andelectrically connected with the circuit board.
 5. The walking stick ofclaim 1, further comprising: a transformer socket mounted on the stickbody and electrically connected with the circuit board.
 6. The walkingstick of claim 2, wherein the drive portion of the control handle isprovided with a fixing hole secured on the driven portion of thegenerating unit.
 7. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the stick bodyhas an upper portion provided with a receiving recess to receive thebuzzer, two receiving chambers to receive the two lamp shadesrespectively, and an elongate receiving slot to receive the leveldetector.
 8. The walking stick of claim 7, wherein the receiving slot ofthe stick body is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the stickbody.
 9. The walking stick of claim 7, wherein the receiving recess ofthe stick body has an outer side provided with a plurality of aperturesthat are arranged to form a circular shape.
 10. The walking stick ofclaim 1, wherein the stick body has an inner portion provided with anelongate receiving space to receive the generating unit and the storagebattery.
 11. The walking stick of claim 10, wherein the receiving spaceof the stick body has a peripheral wall provided with a locking grooveto fix the circuit board.
 12. The walking stick of claim 10, wherein thestick body has a periphery provided with a mounting bore connected tothe receiving space of the stick body for mounting the control switchand a mounting groove connected to the receiving space of the stick bodyfor mounting the lighting unit; the control switch protrudes outwardlyfrom the mounting bore of the stick body; the lighting unit protrudesoutwardly from the mounting groove of the stick body.
 13. The walkingstick of claim 4, wherein the stick body has a periphery provided with amounting hole for mounting the USB socket; the USB socket protrudesoutwardly from the mounting hole of the stick body.
 14. The walkingstick of claim 5, wherein the stick body has a periphery provided with amounting aperture connected to the receiving space of the stick body formounting the transformer socket; the transformer socket protrudesoutwardly from the mounting aperture of the stick body.
 15. The walkingstick of claim 2, wherein the stick body has a side provided with areceiving channel to receive the control handle; the receiving channelof the stick body has a wall provided with a passage connected to thereceiving space of the stick body to allow passage of the drive portionof the control handle.
 16. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein thecontrol switch and the transformer socket are mounted on the circuitboard; the generating unit is electrically connected with the circuitboard and the storage battery; the storage battery is located above thegenerating unit.
 17. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the stickbody consists of two casings which are combined together; each of thetwo casings of the stick body has a periphery provided with a protrudingfixing portion to combine the two casings of the stick body together.18. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein one of the two lamp shades hasa side provided with a plurality of receiving holes to receive the lightemitting members respectively.
 19. The walking stick of claim 7, whereinthe stick body has a substantially T-shaped profile; the two receivingchambers of the stick body are located opposite to each other and aredirected toward two opposite directions; each of the two receivingchambers of the stick body protrudes outwardly from the upper portion ofthe stick body.
 20. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the controlswitch is located opposite to the lighting unit.